Life

Faris Al-Sultan Turns Up the Heat in South Africa

A former IRONMAN world champion wants one last shot at winning back his title in Kona.

By Stefan Jaeger

You don’t need to appreciate Shakespeare to understand Faris Al-Sultan’s approach to triathlon, but the veteran Iraqi-German athlete might relate to this quote from Lady Macbeth: "Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?"

Al-Sultan, at the ripe old age of 35, chuckles when talking about his years: "You know every now and then I feel like a dinosaur."

But there's nothing prehistoric about coming in fifth at last year's IRONMAN World Championship and winning in spectacular fashion at the 2012 IRONMAN Austria on the hottest day of the year. (And we'd be remiss not to point out that Craig Alexander was 38 when he won in Kona in 2011.)

Al-Sultan seems so much older to IRONMAN fans because he's been a mainstay on the race circuit for so long. He did his first IRONMAN in 1997 in Lanzarote and racked up a number of top finishes over the years before finally winning his first full-distance race in Arizona in 2005. Back then the race in Arizona took place in April and, a few months later, he led from start to finish in Kona to take the world championship. All in the Speedo swimsuit that has become his trademark race apparel.

Al-Sultan has always won fans with his down-to-earth, easy-going nature. In 2005, he arrived at the airport in Kona with his bike packed in a low-tech cardboard box. When asked what he'd like as a snack after he won the race, he requested a fast-food burger.

Six years after his first start at the Spec Savers IRONMAN South Africa, Al-Sultan has returned to what he calls "one of the best IRONMAN races in the world." The appearance in Port Elizabeth kicks off what looks like his last shot at a second win at the IRONMAN World Championship.

"At some point you have to realize that it might be time to stop. But I want to see what’s still left in my aging body," he says. "It’s an early-season race and I really want to make sure I am well rested throughout the year leading up to Kona," says Al-Sultan.

The high temperatures and humid climate predicted for Port Elizabeth could give Al-Sultan an advantage—at least, that's what he's banking on.

"Quite honestly I don’t stand a chance against people like Pete Jacobs or Andreas Raelert under normal race conditions," he continues. "But when it gets hot and people have to step out of their comfort zone, that’s what I call Al-Sultan conditions."

Track Al-Sultan's performance and follow the race live this Sunday at ironman.com or on Twitter using the hashtag #IMSA.